Reply To: Coach Mentoring – Is it being used with success ?

[hockeygod]

RK,

We live in a fast-food mentality mindset. There are no quick fixes… and as you said, even volunteer coaches, who are supposed to be in development mode, have to win or they won't get asked back the following year. Interesting how hypocritical the associations and coaches are… they repeat the goals out load, but both parties know it is about winning… or lose your position!

I don't have any real certifications to be a mentor. Not sure any exist. I just have experience and think, "how would I like to be treated"; ask the coach some questions and try to design my approach accordingly.

It is rewarding to see development. That's why I do this too! Like you, I don't coach a team either. I miss aspects of it, but other aspects… NOT!

While out Hallowe'ening with my kids, I had a neighbour ask me if I would help him with his Bantam 3 community team (they play in Division 5, of about 10 levels). I teach his kid at one of my skill academies. See his email to me below:

Dean,

Here is my practice schedule for November. They are all half ice except for the one noted as full. We have a fairly talented team mainly comprised of first years and are playing Div 5 so we are sort of in the middle.

Where I am looking for is some help in demonstrating / teaching:

· Effective breakout to stretch the opposition forecheck and avoid unnecessary neutral zone turnovers: I have a hard time getting my wingers to use the open ice and create passing opportunities when skating out

· Effective F1 F2 F3 attack triangle that creates scoring opportunities by getting the puck to the net: a lot of time my wingers lag behind the play or don’t go the net instinctively

· Defensive drills for good one on one play- gap control, angling, etc: Some of my D continually get beat 1-1 as they worry about the puck instead of playing the man and keeping the forward to the outside

· Simple Forecheck; either a 1-2-2 or 2-1-2 that is effective and creates turnovers for scoring opportunities : my team is fairly small but they can be effective if they can apply pressure and make contact when forechecking

Let me know if you are available to chat and if you can help me out at all….

We are going to meet next week and I will ask him what specifically he (as a coach) wants or is it strictly for the team development. As you can gather from here, this sounds like a lot of systems / strategy stuff… especially for a Bantam 3 team playing in Div 5. I need to see where his team is at (on the ice re: skills, tactics, thinking) and then go from there. I hope I can bring some fun and games to the forefront while I let the game teach the game!

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."